Frequently asked questions - APM Registered Project Professional

Most common questions
Please find links to common questions we receive:

What previous qualifications are relevant to APM Registered Project Professional?
APM Registered Project Professional (RPP) is an assessment of competence based on your portfolio of evidence. There is a route for existing APM Certificated Project Managers and one for APM Fellows (FAPM), will be available from 1st April 2012. Other grades of APM membership and APM qualifications may satisfy elements of APM Registered Project Professional and other qualifications will be considered relevant CPD, if taken within the last 12 months.

How can holders of CPM become APM Registered Project Professionals?
Those who have already achieved the APM Certificated Project Manager (CPM) qualification have already demonstrated that they have successfully managed a complex project. They are therefore exempt from completing the portfolio of evidence and professional review component of RPP. CPMs must, though, be able to show that they are currently practising or working in a project environment, and that they have completed at least 35 hours of CPD within the last 12 months. They must also be or become Full Members of APM. Holders of CPM who wish to apply for RPP can request information from APM.

How can Fellows of APM become APM Registered Project Professionals?
Those who have achieved Fellow membership of APM must submit an application in the form of an RPP portfolio of evidence. Fellows only have to demonstrate evidence of managing the execution of the two mandatory core competences in complex project situations: leadership; and professionalism & ethics. There is no portfolio of evidence application fee for Fellows. When Fellows have successfully passed through the portfolio assessment, they are invited to arrange an RPP professional review and pay the required fee. Fellows who wish to apply for RPP can obtain candidate guidance notes and a portfolio of evidence application form here:

Can I take APM Registered Project Professional if I am a project specialist?
APM Registered Project Professional is a pan-sector standard applying to a wide variety of project professionals including specialists. Specialists are expected to demonstrate all RPP competences directly or by managing others within a complex project environment.

Can I apply for APM Registered Project Professional if I am not based in the UK?
There is no restriction on who can apply for APM Registered Project Professional although typically professional reviews will take place in the UK.

Why must I become an APM member when I become APM Registered Project Professional?
Accountability is a key element of the APM 5 Dimensions of Professionalism. APM Membership confirms your commitment to the APM Code of Professional Conduct.

Are there any time limits regarding the process or reapplying?
Your professional review must be completed within one year of your successful portfolio assessment. There are no time restrictions for reapplying if you are unsuccessful, although you should consider the currency of your portfolio and CPD, plus any feedback provided with your unsuccessful application.

Who is an appropriate referee for my application?
Your referees should be senior, informed individuals who will endorse your competence, knowledge and performance. Your referees will be asked to confirm your responsible leadership and management of others in a complex project environment by email. At least one should be a major stakeholder of one of the complex projects in your portfolio of evidence.

Will my professional review assessors be sector specialists?
Your professional review will be with current APM Registered Project Professionals who will have undergone additional training to become APM Registered Project Professional assessors. They are not selected based on their sector knowledge, but are experienced professionals who will have an understanding of your portfolio of evidence.

When do RPP fees become payable?
The RPP application fee is payable at the two stages of the process: when the portfolio of evidence application form is received and when the professional review is arranged. When your application is received and processed, APM will contact you for the first payment. Payment can be made by debit or credit card. If you are not a member of APM, a membership fee is payable at this stage.
When arrangements are made for the professional review, the second stage fee becomes payable. Current RPP fees can be found on the RPP webpage. Should any part of the process need to be repeated, the appropriate fee must be paid at that time.

Should I need to cancel or rearrange my professional review, is there a cancellation policy?
A If there is a need to cancel your professional review, and it is before the twenty eight (28) day cut-off, there will be no penalty. If however there is a need to cancel your professional review within twenty eight (28) days of the confirmed professional review date, you will incur the entire fee, and when you reschedule a second fee will become payable.

Can Honorary Fellows use the route to RPP designed for Fellows?
Honorary Fellows (HonFAPM) can only use the Fellow (FAPM) route to RPP if they were Fellows previously. This is because candidates who have become a Fellow of APM (FAPM) must go through an assessment process to achieve the highest membership grade, which is recognised through the specifically designed route to RPP for Fellows.

What recognition is given to holders of APM qualifications or memberships?
APM recognises these achievements as evidence of knowledge, CPD or competence, depending on the particular qualification or level of membership.

If the applicant holds any of the following APM qualifications or memberships
Requirement	Introductory Certificate	APMP	Practitioner Qualification	CPM	MAPM	FAPM
Demonstrate Core competences	Must complete all competence statements	Must complete all competence statements	Must complete all competence statements	Satisfies requirements	Must complete all competence statements	Must complete two mandatory core competence statements
Demonstrate Complementary competences	Must be completed	Satisfies requirements	Satisfies requirements	Satisfies requirements	Satisfies requirements	Satisfies requirements
CPD	(14 hours) Partially satisfies requirement if achieved within previous 12 months	Satisfies requirement if achieved within previous 12 months	(20 hours) Partially satisfies requirement if achieved within previous 12 months	Satisfies requirement if achieved within previous 12 months, if >1 year CPD records required	Must be completed	Must be completed
Project Track Record	Must be completed	Must be completed	Must be completed	250 word statement demonstrating currently professionally active or Project CV	Must be completed	Must be completed
Interview	Must be completed	Must be completed	Must be completed	Not required	Must be completed	Must be completed